Air deflector



April 24, 1951 J. B. SUTHERLAND AIR DEF'LECTOR Filed Sept. 23, 1947 R oT N E v m ATTORNEYS.

a motor vehicle.

. Patented-Apr. 24, i951 UNITED Es *PATENT OFFICE 12 clai s; (cra e-,2

This invention relates to air deflectors and more particularly toportable air deflectors. Such devices may bejpositionedtemporarilyinawindow opening of,for' example, a motorvehiclean'd removed, if desired,when' no longer required.

An important object of the invention is to pro? vide a novel airdeflector which may be posi tioned, for instance, in the window openingof'a motor vehicle soas-to deflect airoutwardly, or

away fromthe window opening, and thus con-5 tribute toward aircirculation within the vehicle without direct draftsstriking theoccupants. Or the deflector may be'jpositioned so: as' to' increasematerially the'air flow intothe vehicle' 7 Another important object isto provide such an air deflector which 'may'fbel'positioned'at, anydesired location longitudinally along the lower edge or sill of a windowframe, so a'sto project upwardly and cover'a 7 window opening.

Still another important object is provide 'a deflector of this kindwhich,v when in position in a window opening of fa'. motor vehicle(which opening may be closed'norm'ally by raising a loweredpane ofglass" to fill the opening), doesnot interfere with the raising (andlowering) of the pane so that, ,if desired, the deflector need not beremoved when raising and lowering the pane.

A major object of the, invention is to provide a deflector of this kindwhich requires' no modifi-j' cation of any natureiin thefconventionalwindow af motorfvehicle, when inframe structure of stalled thereon. j et r A further object'is to provide a portable'air deflector whichincludes concealed f attaching means, so that thereare no projectinghooks, clamps nor the like tocatch upon cause injury to the person. Q

In addition, an object is to provide a deflector which may bemanufactured and marketed at low cost, is pleasing in'ap-pearance, maybe constructed wholly or partly of 'modern hardened; up but very littleplastic materials, and takes room whennot in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention 45 will be apparent duringthe course of the follow-*- ing detailed description of'the'invention,taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing,

forming a part of this disclosure, and'in which drawing: v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention. f f iFigure 2 is a vertical section of the deflector of Figure 1, positionedin selected portion of the clothing or the window opening of g V e Iprovided with one mea'nsto resist upward move- Figure 3 is a perspectiveview of a modified form of the invention.

Figures '4 to 7 inclusive aresections substan- .tially upon'theirrespective lines of Figure 3.

p forms of th invention and wherein'similar ref erence charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Adesigi nates the preferred form or the invention; the

letter B, a modified form, and C, awindow struc- 3; maybe ofmetaliplain, plated, enameled or the like), hardened plastic materials(transparent,

N translucent, opaque; or combinations thereof and,

and plastics.

portion [2.

Referrin mainly to Figures 1 and 2, the del 5 flector body portion I'llcomprises an upwardly-- extending sheet of suitable material which maybe shaped to have side edges l5 and IS, an arcue ate upperedge ll,joining the edges [5 and I6, and a b'qttom section which joinsthe'support 30 portion l'l', There are, of course, two faces "I9 and '20provided by the sheet, and it maybe braced by the brace means I8,comprising a member extending upwardly from the-support por-" tion atadjacent one edge, as the-edge l5.

The support'portion II is a sheet of material a and this may be fiat andthree-sided, with a short edge 25, a long edge which merges into thebody portion In and is, preferably, normal to the j edge 25, and a thirdedge which defines the- -qhypotenuse of the angle formed by the twoedges previously mentioned. The third edge merges into the retaininportion 12, as will be described hereafter; The lower edge or end of jportion I I','preferably adjacent the edg portion 'hasjof course, alower face 21.

of material" having a downwardly-extending secasthe portion H, and thesection 39 joins the portion H- at the hypotenuse mentioned, It isFigure 8 is a section of a modification of the Inthe drawing,wherein'for the purpose of illustration is shown preferred and modified"The deflector A, shown particularly in Figure 1, and'the deflectorB','shown particularly in Figure if "desired, colored) or combinationsof metalsf In the form A; there is a deflector portion l0, supportportion II, and retainingthe brace [8' joins the upper face 26 of thesupport e 20. The f Depending from the, support portion H is the"retaining portion {2, and it'may comprise a sheet ment of the portionsHI and l 1 when the deflector A is in use, as in Figure 2, and thismeans is shown as a projection 32 extending outwardly of the face 33 ofthe section 30. The projection 32 may be a solid rib or elongated boss34, as in Figure 6, or a hollow rib or boss, as in Figure 8, the latterbeing formed by upsetting or embossing the material forming the section30. There is, of course, a face 36 opposite the face 33.

The section 3;] is of resilient material, may he as wide as the section3!], and extends, from the lower end of the section 30, in a curve,upwardly toward the plane of the face 21. Preferably, the arc is suchthat a part (as the free edge portion 31) of the section 3| normallyextends outwardly 4 material, as felt, rubber or the like. The sill issupported by the spaced-apart, downturned walls 64 and 65 of the windowstructure, whereby a compartment 66 is provided into which the slot orpassageway 62 opens and which compartment is constructed and arranged toaccommodate the lowered closure 67 for the opening 60. This closure is,generally, a pane of glass, and there is provided suitable means tolower and raise the pane through the slot (52, with the compressiblefacing contacting the pane.

Either of the novel deflectors A or B may be positioned in the opening60, with the pane either of the vertical plane of the portion .151, EQ?

tion 31 has a face 38 joining the face 33 and a face 39 merging into theface 36. Referring now mainly to Figure 3, where 9 modified form B isshown, it will be seen that it is much like the form A," and similarreference charactersdesignate like parts of both forms. However, thesupport portion 40 of form 3 is providedin its lower race- 1, with arecess 41, shown in Figure 4, and the retaining portion 45 of the form Bhas a recess 46 in its face 33 of its upper section 41 merging into therecess 4|, and a recess 48in its lower arcuatc section 49 which mergesinto" the recess 46 and falls short of the edge portion 37 of the formB. This combined recess ma be disposed adjacent the merging edges of;th'e'portions 40 and 45 (as, adjacent the edges 25, m

Ihaddition, the section 47 carries one meanstri 35 4g; and isshown as aprojetcion '34 ext ndi V outwardly from the face 33 bf thesectio'n 47.,and

resist upward movement of the portions 1i] and adjacentthe edge 5].Below the projection 3.5 in'theupp ef section 4'! 'is shown a recess 52in thef'a ce 3 3 of the lower section 4.9, which recess cfifiell w ne hewmbh r e se i a v isposed within the combined recesses 41,, 4 5. nd 4.8is a ea tendin o estor he a ciia section 49 to substantially itsoriginal curvature at A being distorted? This means. may he, a res lientme-taldnsert 5 5, and it m'ay be held in a e upsetting. t ia efie he 2 I5 3, and 4,5 f'to provide tongues 56 at the of the recesses 41' andl48,which tongues overlie. the;

insert; Of course, this insert: horn 11y has 'a. xe ur u d ds. t9 impartsig BEYW- The insert 55, preferablyis provided with means. to resistupward movement of the portions lil and of the form B, and thismaybeaprojec ion 35 id med by upsetting the metal insert. "Of coursg thelo'ngitudinal axes. of the projections 34' and 35., of thefcr'm'B,coincide.

It is preferred that the recess 52 accommodate additional means tendingrestore the sec on 4%"126 substantially its original curvature a I beingdistorted. This means may be a resil nietalinsert '51 held in place bytongues only dofthe two. metal inserts function a d scribed,particularly when the portion 45 1 W strengthening the portion '45.

Referring nowto Figure, 2, the window structure C is shownas aconventional one, such as employed in motor vehicles. Sucha structureincludes the walls of a window opening-60, having ,partlylowered orwholly lowered. This positioning of the deflector is accomplished byinserting the edge portion 31 into the slot 62 and feeding the sections31 and 30, or the sections 49 and 46, est-the case-maybe, through .theslot until the pqrtion it! or 40, as the case may be, may be disposedupon the sill Bl. By this time, the resilient meeesm ntign d w l eresians in P s i 'ga'ns the. r face, ne or the OtheIT-Of the W ll 4. 9 6.5 onthe e a pl -show n, Fi ur 2. it i he wa l 5 em been the h ain t he. tens d scr be wi l. be th mm diatel e ow e aci 3- ha n compressed t elatte in passing downward y and w ll re 1st even tr ng currents or aiaided y the frictional g p. afor e by he. arq ate s cti ns. of heetaining e u n e QQWEQP-h or he upp ercent with the 111;

T rac v l8, re ains the portion 1 a s e ling r vibra g, er w en he ur ntare strong, .since, the construction of the new deflectors issuch thatthere is, no necessity, nOr is. it, desi able t bend t e. po tion H1 inwa while pQfiitionmg either deflector in place.

The n s iqn o the defleqtor ma be e ed ead m 'tha shown n ure so that thdevice will tend to deflect air into the, vehicle through the windowopening. When so D sitioned, the portions 3| 01149,, @Sthe. case. maybe, will bear'against the. wall 64.

While themeans p TOllidQd will resist accidental disp acem t oi t e novl,- defiec ors w en 9 iQll 5 fifimp d k 1 4X pw rd P1 11 1 the, bodyportion will cause the. projections. top ass upw 81 6 the c mpressed.facing. 63, s W l as. cause the sections of the deflector bearing ai'ntthe all ,4 o 65. o sl de u wardly alone e. par q 1h :.wail- Ea nmanipula i m rcippve, he defiecto are o r 7 If there be any wear causedby the. retaining. ea s, his, 1 be p n. h nne eme ed ur e o e. wall @64. n n t u n heir t ti an there are o c m no use awinsiew peni a a winsiw tr e e ay g a m are eet. a d. a assageway from. sa openns. said;compartment, said deflector: including deflector f r d s osal: sa dwindowopenin mm eabodm portion; su ort: means for m a said: fr me trctur at; aid. opening,

o. pr sin a.shppohtporti nc rried by said-body; portion; anda retaininportion carried: by. One.

of said other portions and provided with; a. sec:

' Qh extendin 31 1 1 5 6 sa d: passa eway, and re a sill 6i, providedwiith a longitudinally extend 7 ing slot or passageway 62, havingdownturned,

silient means extending from said section into id cemhartmentfreentaqtwith 1W 1: cheese: to net id 'de ton-means agai ccidenta -lin,;; said window opening, including 'a-curved sec-J tion, ofresilientsheet material resiliently bearing a a n t w ll- 3 2 In adeflector for a window opening of a window framehaving aslotted sill anda walled compartment below said sill, said deflector, includingdeflector means for disposal within said opening, comprising anupwardly-extending deflector body portion; a sill-engagingsupportportion; and means extending from said support portion, 'ins'ertablethrough said slotandlfinto; said compartment to retain said deflectormeans.

when within said openingfagainst accidental displacement, including asheet of. flexible material;

having an arcuate section, and =an-arcuate insert of resilientmaterialcarriedby'said arcuate sece 121011.: v l H 3. In a deflectorfora ,window opening of a window frame havinga slotted sill and a walledcompartment below said sill, said deflector including deflector meansfor disposal within said opening, comprising anupwardly-extendingdeflector body portion; a sill-engaging supportportion; and means extending from said support portion, inserta-blethrough said slot and into said compartment toretain said deflectormeans, when within said opening, against accidental displacement,including a length of resilient material having a curved section, aninsert of resilient material carried by said length, and a beadextending from said insert and constructed and arranged to extendimmediately below said sill and into said compartment when said means iswithin said opening.

4. Ina deflector for a window opening of a 7 window. frame having aslotted sill and a walled ing an arcuate section with a substantiallyflat,

elongated free edge, and means to strengthen said sheet of flexiblematerial and cause it to assume an arcuate shape, comprising an arcuateinsert of resilient material, with its longitudinal axis substantiallynormal to said edge, carried by said sheet at the concave face thereof,said insert being provided with a bead extending from said insert andconstructed and arranged to extend immediately below said sill when saiddeflector means is withinsaid opening.

5. In a deflector for a-window opening of a window fr'amehaving aslotted sill and a walled compartment below said sill, said deflectorincluding deflector means for disposal within said opening, comprisingan upwardly-extending deflector body portion; a sill-engaging supportportion; and means extending from said support portion, insertablethrough said slot and. into said compartment to retain said deflectormeans,

when within said opening, against accidental displacement, including asheet of resilientmaterial having an arcuate section with asubstantially flat elongated free edge, and an elongated rib extendingoutwardly from said sheet and constructed and arranged to extendimmediately below said sill when said deflector means is within saidopening.

6. In a deflector for a window opening of a window frame having aslotted sill and a walled 6 compartment below said sill, said deflectorfincluding deflector means for disposal within said opening, deflectorbody portion; a sill-engaging support portion; a brace extending fromsaid support portion to said body portion; and means extending from saidsupport portion, insertable through said slot and into said compartmentto retain said deflector means, when within said opening,

against. accidental displacement-J including a sheet of flexiblematerial having an arcuate sec? tion with a substantially flat elongatedfree edge, a recessextending toward-said edge, an insert of resilientmaterial in said recess, having apro-f jection constructed and-arrangedto extend im; mediately below said sill when said deflector}. 'meansiswithin said opening, and a projection? carried by said sheet with itslongitudinal axis substantially. coincident with the longitudinal axisof said first projectionand also constructed and arranged to extendimmediately belowr'said sill when said deflector means iswithinsa-idportion and provided with a free edge.

8. As an article of manufacture, an air deflector for the window openingof an automobile door, said air deflector comprising an integral sheetof material formed into a substantially. rigid air-deflecting, windowopening-positioned portion having a substantially straight, end, asupporting portion extending from said end and disposed substantiallynormal to said first named portion and having a substantially straightend, and a portion extending from said second-named end, including asection disposed substantially normal to said supporting portion, and aresilient section extending from said first-named section and curvedinto an open arc in the direction of said first-named end, saidlast-named section having a free edge.

9. In an air deflector for use in a window opening defined by walls of awindow frame structure 7 having other walls defining a compartment andwalls defining a passageway leading from said opening to saidcompartment, said air deflector including a sheet material body having asubstantially rigid air-deflecting portion for said opening, asupporting portion extending from and substantially normal to saidair-deflecting portion for positioning upon a portion of said frame atsaid opening and passageway, and a portion depending from saidsupporting portion and including a section for extension through saidpassageway, and a resilient section extending from said first section,being curved into an open arc in the direction of said supportingportion for extension into said compartment and bearing against theinner face of a wall of said compartment.

10. An air deflector having a vertical upwardly-extending air deflectingportion, a support portion extending horizontally from said verticalportion and a depending portion extending from said support portion andincluding a resilient comprising an upwardly-extending aszs em 11. airdeflector having a vertical upwardly-extending air deflecting portion, asupport portion extending horizontally from said vertical portion, and adepending portion extending from said support portion and including aresilient section curved in an open arc in the direction of saidhorizontal portion and providedwith a free edge, a curved insert ofresilient material carried by said downwardly-extending portion at saidresilient section, and a bead extending from said insert and constructedand arranged to extend below said support portion.

12. An air deflector having a vertical upwardly-extending air deflectingportion, a support portion extending horizontally from said verticalportion, and a depending portion extending from said support portion andincluding a resilient section curved in an open arc in the direction ofsaid horizontal portion and provided with a free edge, said dependingportion having a recess'extending toward said edge, an insert ofresilient material within said recess, said insert having a beadconstructed andarranged to ex tend immediately below said supportportion and said depending portion having a bead with the longitudinalaxis of said last-named bead substantially coincident with thelongitudinal axis of the first bead.

JOHN BIRGER SUIHERLAND.

REFERENCES CITED 10 The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

